Stay on target

It’s almost 2019 so that means we have a whole new crop of video games to look forward to. 2018 may have been a slight step back compared to the unbelievable 2017. But right now 2019 could end up surpassing them both, especially as publishers push out their last big games before the start of a hypothetical next generation of consoles.

Lots of games are scheduled for a vague “2019” time frame. But for this list we just wanted to keep it limited to games with specific 2019 release dates we’re pretty sure won’t change. Fortunately, that means these are all exciting games you can play pretty soon! But just don’t expect stuff like Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Animal Crossing, Jedi: Fallen Order, Halo Infinite, Gears of War 5, the new Pokemon, Doom Eternal, Death Stranding, Luigi’s Mansion 3, or The Last Of Us 2. Also Days Gone isn’t on this list but that’s for… other reasons.

So here are the most exciting upcoming video games of 2019!

Resident Evil 2

It’s taken a lot of promises and a franchise reboot in the form of Resident Evil VII, but the long-awaited Resident Evil 2 remake is almost here. And this new version of rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy’s doomed trip through Raccoon City looks as terrific as it is terrifying. Resident Evil 2 releases on January 25.

Devil May Cry V

Devil May Cry 4 was a decade ago and Ninja Theory’s DmC reboot proved divisive. Plus Bayonetta is a thing now. But the original demon-slaying of Dante and friends returns in Devil May Cry 5, which looks like hell on Earth. Devil May Cry 5 releases on March 8.

Anthem

Bioware takes a break from Mass Effect and Dragon Age to deliver a new sci-fi shooter RPG. As Freelancers you and teammates fly around the open worlds in your mech suits completing missions and gathering loot. It looks like Destiny but with hopefully some more of the great storytelling Bioware is known for. Anthem releases on February 22.

Crackdown 3

Originally revealed around the beginning of the life of the Xbox One, Crackdown 3 finally makes it out the door toward what we assume is near the end. It’s easy to make this game a punchline. But honestly, we’re still holding out hope that a game in which Terry Crews is a superhero cop blowing stuff up turns out really fun! Crackdown 3 releases on February 15.

Kingdom Hearts III

At last, the third Kingdom Hearts game. No more mobile spin-offs with incomprehensible titles. This ultimate chapter in the adventure of Mickey Mouse’s anime friends will hopefully bring some closure to the story that began in 2002. Don’t let the cartoons fool you, this RPG is for serious, simple, and clean grown folks. Kingdom Hearts III releases on January 29.

Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes

No More Heroes was a cult classic on the Nintendo Wii. Its vulgar hero, bloody beam katana battles, and over-the-top assassin opponents were exactly what the console needed. And now the series is back on Nintendo Switch with Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, a sort of anthology of indie games from Travis’s world. Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes releases on January 18.

Mortal Kombat 11

It took them long enough to announce it but soon we’ll be playing the next gory entry in the classic fighting game franchise. Mortal Kombat 11 as a name is a bit plain, but the kills look more stylish than ever. How will we cope with an evil Raiden? Mortal Kombat 11 releases on April 23.

Rage 2

Out of the two colorful post-apocalypse shooters coming out next year (the other being Far Cry: New Dawn), Rage 2 seems more exciting if only because we never expected Rage 2 to ever be a thing. Plus it looks like Avalanche Studios has learned a trick or two from their partners at iD because the shooting gives us serious Doom vibes. Rage 2 releases on May 14.

Shenmue 3

We know we said we’d keep this list limited to games we think will come out in 2019. But Yu Suzuki’s crowdfunded follow-up to the cult Sega classic Shenmue series has a public release date of August 27. So that’s when we expect to drive some forklifts and find some sailors.

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

Mostly we’re excited about this just to see how “apolitical” a third-person loot shooter set in the ruined remains of Washington, D.C. can be. Despite all odds the first Division wound up with a pretty dedicated audience, so hopefully the sequel keeps them satisfied. The Division 2 releases on March 15.

Super Meat Boy Forever

Team Meat might not be all the same folks it used to be. But Super Meat Boy Forever totally looks like a worthy follow-up to the original masocore masterpiece. The endless running will take some getting used to for precision platforming. But the right way to play Meat Boy was never to stop anyway. Super Meat Boy Forever launches in April.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Welp, the Dark Souls people are back with another Dark Souls type of game. This time, the aesthetic is much more Japanese, probably to put Nioh in its place. Plus Activision is publishing this, proving they can release games that aren’t Call of Duty or Destiny or Blizzard games or Crash Bandicoot and/or Spyro. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice releases on March 22.